Alabama Football: 30 Most Legendary Players in Tide History

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesAJ McCarron's second national title vaulted him into the mix as one of the most legendary QB's to ever play at Alabama.

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Paul “Bear” Bryant looms as the Alabama football program’s biggest icon, but several players—before, during and after Bryant’s tenure—have gone on to achieve excellence during their stay at the Capstone.

From the era of the 1930s with Hall of Fame split end Don Hutson to Nick Saban’s present-day dynasty led by quarterback A.J. McCarron, Alabama supporters have witnessed the birth of several star-studded careers on the gridiron.

With so many players dominating at a school synonymous with excellence and winning, there are a number of gifted and charismatic athletes who would be left off no matter how long this list could possibly be.

So with that said, which players stood out the most in their time wearing Crimson and White?

Find out as I attempt to nail down the 30 most legendary players in Alabama football history.

26. Bobby Humphrey, RB (1985-88)

A two-time All-American (1986-87), Bobby Humphrey topped 200 yards on the ground in three games during his college career.

His 4,958 all-purpose yards still stand as a school record—with 2,016 of those piled up in a 1986 season that was statistically his best during a standout four-year career.

Already one of the best running backs in Alabama history, Humphrey’s son—class of 2014 5-star defensive back Marlon Humphrey—is the nation’s top corner (per 247 Sports) and one of Saban’s most coveted targets for the class of 2014.

24. Barry Krauss, LB (1976-78)

One of the most memorable plays in Alabama history was when Barry Krauss stuffed Penn State’s Mike Guman at the goal line to slam the door shut on the Nittany Lions in the Tide’s 14-7 win in the 1979 Sugar Bowl.

The win capped Alabama’s 1978 national championship and served as an exclamation point on an All-American senior season for Krauss.

Krauss spent time as a sideline reporter for Alabama football radio broadcasts and still continues to bask in the glory of the play that defines his legacy (h/t, Jim Weber, Rivals.com).

20. Pat Trammell, QB (1959-61)

Pat Trammell was the Tide’s leader under center on Bryant’s first national championship team in 1961—which ushered in the start of the Bear’s dynasty.

Trammell won SEC Player of the Year honors that season and guided Alabama to a 26-2-4 record during his time as the team’s starter.

It was Trammell’s leadership that served as a blueprint for quarterbacks like Steve Sloan, Joe Namath and Ken Stabler to carry on Alabama’s tradition of excellence at the quarterback position under Bryant.

19. Jay Barker, QB (1991-94)

Jay Barker led the Tide to a 35-2-1 mark as the starter from 1992-94, including capturing the 1992 national championship in his first season under center for Gene Stallings.

Those 35 wins are the most victories accumulated by a Tide quarterback in school history.

Barker is one of only six Tide quarterbacks to pass for more than 5,000 yards in his career. Plus, it was under his guidance that Alabama enjoyed a mini-renaissance in the time period that came after Bryant’s retirement and preceded Saban’s arrival.

15. Trent Richardson, RB (2009-11)

Trent Richardson picked up where Ingram left off and managed to be the driving force on offense for the Tide’s 2011 title run.

Richardson averaged 160.2 all-purpose yards per game in 2011 (fifth-best mark in school history) and became the Tide’s first rusher to capture the Doak Walker Award given to the nation’s best running back.

Aside from being one of Alabama's most dominant running backs during his career, it was displays like his heart-warming gesture of becoming the prom date of cancer survivor Courtney Alvis that continue to have Tide supporters beam with pride when his name is mentioned.

11. Dwight Stephenson, C (1977-79)

Dwight Stephenson was the engine on the offensive line for Alabama’s title teams in 1978-79.

The Virginia-native collected All-American honors in 1979 and took home the Jacobs Trophy as the best blocker in the SEC that same season.

Stephenson went on to a decorated pro career and was enshrined as a Pro Football Hall of Fame member in 1998.

Considering Stephenson drew the ultimate praise from Bryant, his legacy at Alabama is set in stone as one of the best offensive linemen to ever play at the Capstone (h/t, Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times).

9. Barrett Jones, OL (2009-12)

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Barrett Jones was a starter on three national championship teams at three different positions along the offensive line.

In addition to the team and individual hardware Jones was able to acquire in his celebrated career, he was also a three-time Academic All-American who will go down as one of the greatest linemen in college football history.

As if his legacy needed any additional luster, Jones played the final seven quarters of his career—the last three periods of the SEC title win over Georgia and the BCS title win over Notre Dame—with torn ligaments in his left foot.

8. Mark Ingram, RB (2008-10)

After a banner sophomore season in 2009 that saw the Crimson Tide cruise to a national championship, Ingram cemented his college legacy by becoming the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner.

Ingram’s 3,261 career rushing yards (fourth in school history) and 46 total touchdowns (third all time at Alabama) still stand as benchmarks of excellence amongst the great rushers to play in Tuscaloosa.

Ingram continues to be a proud supporter of the Tide football program, having been on the sidelines in last season’s BCS title victory over LSU and the latest win in November over the Tigers in Baton Rouge.

7. A.J. McCarron, QB (2010-13)

With two national championships serving as the end result from his two seasons as the starting quarterback, A.J. McCarron is already in rare air before he begins his final collegiate season this fall.

McCarron—who already ranks fourth all-time in career passing yards (5,956 yards)—owns the single-season record for touchdown passes (30 last season) and the career mark (49 touchdowns passing).

Even at a school littered with excellent quarterback play, McCarron has a chance to leave the Capstone as the most decorated quarterback to line up under center at Alabama if he can lead the Tide to a three-peat in 2013.

Regardless of what unfolds this fall, McCarron will depart Tuscaloosa next season as one of the most gifted passers in school history.

6. Lee Roy Jordan, LB (1960-62)

After taking home MVP honors of the 1963 Orange Bowl by racking up an incredible 31 tackles in a win over Oklahoma, Lee Roy Jordan’s legacy was rubber-stamped as one the Tide’s best linebackers in school history.

Jordan was an All-American in 1962 and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting that season.

Jordan is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and went on to a stellar 14-year pro career with the Dallas Cowboys.

3. Ozzie Newsome, TE (1974-77)

Perhaps the greatest endorsement of Ozzie Newsome’s amazing career came from Bryant, per Bob Gain of TideSports.com.

Bryant called him ‘the greatest end in Alabama history and that includes Don Hutson. A total team player, fine blocker, outstanding leader, great receiver with concentration, speed, hands.’

The current general manager of the Baltimore Ravens is one of only three receivers in Tide history to pile up more than 2,000 career receiving yards—with his totals coming in an era where the primary means of moving the football came on the ground.

Newsome is a Hall of Fame member in the NFL as well as college football.